This cemetery contains 55 Commonwealth burials (41 from the UK and 14 from Canada) +3 German. Many of the UK burials are from the Norfolk Regiment who stood alongside the Cheshires and we may presume, therefore, were killed on the 24th August 1914 and originally buried on the battlefields.

The Cemetery contains 5 named soldiers of the Cheshire Regiment who died defending the village of Elouges and Audregnies during the BEF's 'Retreat from Mons' on 24 August 1914.

1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment

Officers, N.C.O.s and Men of the 1st Battalion, Buried in Elouges Communal Cemetery

All of the men named below were awarded the 1914 Star (with "clasps and roses"), the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

... about how to get to Elouges Cemetery and other information

Lance Corporal 7680 Edward EDWARDS

Date of Death:

24 August 1914 (Killed in Action)

Grave No:

Sp. Mem. A.6

Unit:

'D' Company

Age:

31

Personal History:

Edward Edwards is a very common Welsh name, but the SDGW database gives his place of birth as Rhostyllen, which makes him most likely to be the fifth child of Ambrose (Railway Platelayer) and Mary Edwards of Church Street, Rhostyllen, Denbigh, Wales. His older siblings were Peter, Jane, Edwin and Ambrose. (1891 Wales Census RG 12/4617). In 1901 Edward was still living at home and employed as Coal miner. (1901 Wales Census RG 13/5221).

The 1911 Census shows him as a serving 28 year old Lance Corporal with the 2nd Battalion stationed at The Ridge, Jubbulpore, India. (RG 14/34980) This would suggest he was born in 1882/3.

Military History:

Currently his Army records are unavailable, and do not appear to have survived the Second World War bombing; all that is known is that Edward enlisted at Chester. His regimental number suggests he enlisted about 1904, which ought to have meant he was a Reservist in 1914. His Medal Card indicates 'Private' under his 'Lance Corporal' rank, so he might well have been recalled from the Reserves - as a Private, rather than his former rank.

His Medal Index Card shows that at the outbreak of War and entered France on the 16th August 1914. He was killed in action on 24 August during the Battalion's action at Audregnies, where he fought on the right of the line, near Elouges, under Captain Jones or Captain Rich.

Private 5696 Thomas MASON

Date of Death:

24 August 1914 (Killed in Action)

Grave No:

Sp. Mem. A.7

Unit:

'C' Company

Age:

32

Awards:

D.C.M.

Personal History:

All that is recorded about Thomas is that he was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, in which case he is most likely the fourth child of Richard and Jane Mason, born in the June quarter 1882. His older siblings were Richard, Ellen and James, and his younger ones William, Mark and Elizabeth. (1891 Census RG 12/3060)

Thomas has also been listed on the reconstructed "Millbrook Roll of Honour". In the Great War Millbrook was an isolated village, with neighbours Carrbrook and Heyheads about 2 miles from Stalybridge, Cheshire. In 1911, there were 1,400 males in these areas, and, of those, at least 108 soldiers were killed or died as a result of the War. The inference is that, as he wasn't born there, he may have lived there after his military service and before being recalled as a Reservist in August 1914.

Thomas may have married in the December quarter 1905, either to Annie Garside or Mary Pearce.

Military History:

Currently his Army records are unavailable, and do not appear to have survived the Second World War bombing; all that is known is that Thomas enlisted at Chester.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal but this was not for action during the Audregnies action. He was mentioned in Earl Roberts Despatch of September 4th 1901 during the Boer War, and listed in The London Gazette, September 10th 1901. p. 5956. His DCM was confirmed in the Gazette of 27th September 1901.

His Medal Index Card shows that at the outbreak of War and entered France 16 August 1914. He was killed in action on 24 August in the battle at Audregnies during the Battalion's Retreat from Mons, where he fought under Captain Dugmore on the right of the line.

Private 9793 Frank QUINN

Date of Death:

24 August 1914 (Killed in Action)

Grave No:

Sp. Mem. A.8

Unit:

'C' Company

Age:

23

Personal History:

Francis Quinn was born in St Alban's, Warrington, Lancashire, the third child of John (Forge Labourer) and Mary Quinn. He had two older siblings, John and Catherine, and a younger sister Margaret.

In 1901 the family were living at 25 Ingram Street, Wigan. (1901 Census, RG 13/3557) In 1920 they were living at 1 Summers Yard, Robinson St., Stalybridge, Cheshire.

Military History:

Currently his Army records are unavailable and were no doubt destroyed by WW2 bombing. All that is known is that Frank enlisted at Stalybridge, Cheshire and from his Service number this would have been in about 1911/12, into the 1st Battalion.

His Medal Index Card shows that as a serving soldier he at the outbreak of War and entered France on16th August 1914. He was killed in action at Audregnies on the 24th August fighting on the right of the line under Captain Dugmore.

Private 9892 Thomas TYE (TIGHE)

Date of Death:

24 August 1914 (Killed in Action)

Grave No:

Sp. Mem. A.4

Unit:

'D' Company

Age:

22

Personal History:

Thomas was born in the March quarter 1892 at New Ferry, Cheshire, the son of John (Labourer) and Theresa Tighe, of Birkenhead. In 1901 he was an 8 year old boarder at Bishop Browns Memorial Schools, Stockport, Cheshire. (1901 Census RG 13/3296) This was an 'Industrial School' - Industrial Schools were intended to help those children who were destitute but who had not as yet committed any serious crime. The idea was to remove the child from bad influences, give them an education and teach them a trade.

...... about Industrial Schools

The 1891 Census (RG 12/2874) - just before Thomas was born - shows the family living at 4 Back Olinda Street, New Ferry, and he had at that time five older siblings, Edward, Mary, John, Richard and Kate.

It is not known why he chose to serve under the name of Tye. However, given the assumed background of his childhood it is not surprising he sort some relief in joining the Army.

Military History:

Currently his Army records are unavailable and have probably not survived World War 2 bombing. All that is known is that Thomas enlisted at Chester. His Service Number would suggest he enlisted in February/March 1914 and so was serving with the 1st Battalion at the outbreak of the War.

His Medal Index Card shows that at the outbreak of War and entered France 16 August 1914. He was killed in action on 24 August during the Battalion's action at Audregnies, where he fought on the right of the line under Captain Ernest Rae-Jones.

All five of the men buried here were from 'C' and 'D' Companies of the 1st Battalion which were the companies in action to the right of the line and closer to the village of Elouges, which may account for why they are buried here.

Use the links on the left to read a little more about each man and see where he is buried.

Click on image to see full medal set

Private 7411 Henry HOUGH (A.R.)

Date of Death:

24 August 1914 (Killed in Action)

Grave No:

Sp. Mem. C.31

Unit:

'D' Company

Age:

29

Personal History:

Henry was born in Feb/March 1885, the fifth child of Joseph (Labourer) and Margaret Hough, of School Road, Wharton, Winsford, Cheshire, although he was probably born in Hill Street. His older siblings were Edwin, John, Enoch and Mary, and he had two younger siblings, Albert, Ellen, Simeon and Joseph. (1891 Census RG 12/2841 & 1901 Census RG 13/3343)

Henry married Lydia Lees at Wharton, Cheshire on 9 July 1909. The 1911 Census (RG 14/21695) shows them living at 20 Hill Street, Winsford, Cheshire. (Lydia remarried, to Gunner 85232 Leonard Dickensen, RGA on 16 July 1916 and continued to live at 20 Hill Street.) In view of Henry's unsure status - p.o.w. or k.i.a. (see below) - Lydia received a separation allowance of £52 up to 1916.

Military History:

Henry enlisted at Chester on 17 February 1904, aged 18 years 11 months. He was 5 ft. 3 ins. (1.63 m.) and weighed 122 lbs. (8stone 10 pounds). He had a 'fresh' complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His terms of service were 3 + 9 (i.e. 3 years active service + 9 years reserve), and was transferred to the Army Reserve list on 16 February 1907 and took up employment as a labourer.

During his active service he was employed as Company Cook for about two months, but his Service Record reports his conduct as "indifferent" with "frequent acts of absence." However, close perusal of his Service record makes these comments look a little optimistic! Having been posted to his Battalion on 20 September 1904, he was arrested by the civil authorities on the 27th and fined 2/6d (12½p) plus 5/6d (27½p) or 7 days hard labour for being drunk and disorderly.

On 9 December 1905 he repeated the offence, and on the 12th received the same fine and costs, only this time with 14 days hard labour. This offence was compounded by two charges of assaulting a police officer. For these charges he was sentenced to a total of 28 days in jail. In between times he was absent without leave for 6 days (1 - 6 November 1905). On 25 February 1906 he was charged with being improperly dressed in town. On 28 June 1906 he was absent from the tattoo.

In between his drunk and disorderliness he was treated twice at Lichfield Hospital for gonorrhoea (June and August 1906) and in December 1906 for syphilis.

As a reservist he was recalled to the 1st Battalion at the outbreak of War and his Medal Card shows he entered France 16 August. He was reported missing on 24 August, list 27278, and had been taken prisoner. Initial reports from the Belgian Red Cross were that he was in hospital at Mons and taken away by the Germans and moved to a prisoner of war camp in Germany. Correspondence from the War Office (12 July 1916) stated that there was evidence to show he was in a p.o.w. camp, but soldiers with him had indicated he was unlikely to recover. Also he wife had not heard from him since August 1914.

As a result it was concluded that he must have died in a German hospital and that "for official purposes" his death was accepted as having occurred on or since 24 August 1914 and that his Army records be amended accordingly. Had this been the case it might be expected that he would have been buried in Germany. The very fact that he lies within a few hundred metres of the battlefield would seem to suggest this is where he fell on 24th August 1914.

.... use this link to get a full list of all Soldiers buried in this Cemetery